Single Idea 2639

[catalogued under 28. God / C. Attitudes to God / 5. Atheism]

Full Idea

Some believe that Epicurus gave lip-service only to the gods, so as not to offend the Athenians, but in fact did not believe in them.

Gist of Idea

Some say Epicurus only pretended to believe in the gods, so as not to offend Athenians

Source

report of Epicurus (fragments/reports [c.289 BCE]) by M. Tullius Cicero - On the Nature of the Gods ('De natura deorum') I.84

Book Reference

Cicero: 'The Nature of the Gods', ed/tr. McGregor,Horace [Penguin 1972], p.104